PITTSBURGH (AP) James Conner didn't treat the quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as an obstacle, but an opportunity.

While the shutdown forced the Pittsburgh Steelers running back to cancel a couple of planned vacations, it also gave him time - a lot of time - to filter out the noise heading into the most important season of his career.

"(It) helped me get away from all distractions," Conner said Tuesday. "I'm not saying they're all distractions, but not going out, to stay home and cook at home, and not be able to maybe go out on weekends. It forces people to stay home, so with that time at home I was just trying to get better."